Latest Update

Blind IAS officer has vision for aspirants

AGARTALA: A young Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, posted as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Dhalai district, Tripura, plans to launch a website for those without vision that will help them in their career. The officer, Ajit Kumar Yadav, a resident of Kheri village under Mahendranagar in south Haryana, is himself visually challenged.

Tripura chief secretary G Kameswar Rao said he is happy to get such an efficient, energetic and dedicated officer in the newly formed sub-division of the most backward district in the state. "He may not be blessed with eyesight, but his vision to run the administration is no less sharp than any one of us."

Yadav can use his mobile and laptop with the help of specially-developed software. The software enables him to identify the caller from his contact list. Similarly, this software-aided computer helps him to run the administration. The website will be based on this software.

Ajit lost his vision when he was just five. A bout of acute diarrhoea left him visionless for the rest of his life. But he went on to complete his studies from Springdale School in New Delhi and always came first in class.

"I was a topper in the Class X board exams. After completing my masters in political science from Ramjas College, Delhi University, I began teaching at a government school in Haryana. Thereafter I cleared the UGC NET-JRF and joined the Shyamlal College of Delhi University as assistant professor. But my career took off in 2005," recalled Yadav.

In 2005, when the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opened the doors of IAS to the visually impaired, Yadav was motivated to join the administration. He cleared the IAS in 2008. But the road to the administrative service was not smooth.

"After clearing the Civil Service Exam, I kept waiting for a letter of induction into the prestigious IAS. Instead, I was offered a post in the Indian Railways Personnel Service. I fought back and filed a case against the discrimination in the central administrative tribunal (CAT). CAT ruled in my favour in 2010. But still I did not get an appointment letter," said Yadav.

However, he didn't get disappointed and kept on fighting for justice and finally at the intervention of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), CPM MP Brinda Karat and the Prime Minister, seven of the nine visually impaired candidates received their appointment letters.

Yadav joined as joint secretary of industry in Tripura in 2012. Recently, he was posted in Ambassa with his consent as chief minister Manik Sarkar was concerned about his convenience. But he accepted the post gladly.

CAT to get more 'student-friendly' this year

The countdown for MBA aspirants has begun as the body conducting the Common Admission Test (CAT)-Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I)-on Saturday announced the dates for the test with some major changes in the examination pattern this year. IIM-Indore will be conducting the test for the second consecutive time.

Apparently, making the test CAT 2014 much more "aspirant friendly" this year, the IIM-Indore has increased the exam duration from existing 140 minutes to 170 minutes, discontinued purchase of offline vouchers, the questions in quantitative ability and data interpretation, verbal ability and logical reasoning have been increased to 50 in each section from the existing 30 questions. The tutorial, which was made available before the test started, will not be available this time. The CAT conducting body has advised Candidates have been advised to attempt the tutorials from the website well in advance. They will have to make the payment for registration fee through online modes only, including credit card, debit card or through internet banking. Another significant change that CAT aspirants will see this year will be flexibility for devoting more or less time to each section according to their ability.

Candidates will be able to switch from one section to another during the examination timing.

Unlike previous years, IIM-Indore has cut short the window period for holding examination. The test will be conducted only on two days- this year i.e. on November 16 and November 22-only in forenoon and afternoon sessions. The examination will be conducted in 99 cities comprising 354 test sites. Last year, there were only 45 test centres. Aspirants will be given an option to choose from three cities where the test will be conducted in the order of preference. "The candidates need not rush in the initial registration days for blocking their slots and sites. Candidates will be given their first preferred city across the four sessions on random basis as far as possible.

Candidates will have no option to prefer the dates as it will be allotted by the CAT Centre randomly," states the CAT notification.The registration for CAT will remain open for 56 days beginning from August 6 and closing on September 30. Students will be able to download admit card from October 16 till the exam date.

Alleging large-scale irregularities in the manner in which the test Common Admission Test (CAT) for admission to 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) was conducted, a petition by eight candidates in the Madras high court had sought a stay on the entire admission process this year.

Alleged irregularities in the administration of the test had led to a legal battle. The contract of Prometric, which conducted CAT, has been cancelled. and has been to the Tata Consultancy Services Ltd willhas conducted exam.

IAS Latest Update

Jamia shapes IAS dreams in its free coaching academy

NEW DELHI: Thirty-four of its 300 students have cracked the civil services exam and, of the 12 who made it this year, two were ranked as high as 17 and 90. But this is not just another money-spinning coaching shop. It's the free Residential Coaching Academy of Jamia Millia Islamia. Funded by the University Grants Commission and ministry of minority affairs, it has scripted success stories for candidates from SC/ST category, women and minorities in the past three years.
While the genesis of this coaching academy dates back to 1983 when Jamia established Centre for Coaching and Career Planning, "it was in 2010 with a grant of Rs 15 crore the coaching academy was set up in project mode initially for three years. State-of-the-art infrastructure was created with a round-the-clock library and residential facility. All these are free of cost, aimed at mentoring bright candidates from among women, and SC/ST and minority communities. And the result is there for all to see", Prof. Anisur Rahman, honorary director of the academy, proudly says.
Of the 100 students of the 2013 batch, 12 got an entry to the elite civil service list and 51 others were selected for a variety of other services like Intelligence Bureau, Bank PO, Central Armed Paramilitary Forces and state administrative services.
The academy is now planning to increase the number of intake from 100 to 120 annually. The aspirants are selected on basis of an all-India written test followed by individual interviews. Last year, there were 2,800 applicants. But what make the academy interesting are the peer group and the academic environment it provides for intensive preparations.
It currently has representation from 10 states-Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Its latest success stories include those of a graduate from IIM Ahmedabad, a doctor doing his residency from AIIMS, and a graduate from Shivaji College, DU, and a hotel management graduate from Indian Institute of Hotel Management.
This year's shining star is Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz. A hotel management graduate from Darjeeling, Mumtaz is the highest ranked student from the academy with an all-India position of 17 even while Sana Akhtar ranked 90.
Speaking to TOI, Mumtaz said he will opt for the Indian Administrative Service, though he is eligible for Foreign Service as well. "I want to work in the country and for the country. Through this service, I will get to know about my country and its people, and if I can do something good that will be a good reward," he says.
Speaking about the academy, Mumtaz says, "This is probably the best coaching centre in Delhi. The faculty is excellent and the environment is very conducive to study as you get to stay with your peer group and prepare for the same exam.I stayed here for two years."
The other 10 who made it to the list from the academy this year are Tejaswani Gautam, Afaq Ahmad Giri, Raunaq Jamil Ansari, Mohammad Saim, Dayama Harish Kumar, Satendra Singh Mehra, Avais Patwegar, Jyoti Virdi, Bhanu Prabha and Balram Meena.
Patwegar, who was with AIIMS, took admission enrolled in a private coaching centre and spent Rs 35,000. "I dropped out after a month because of quality issues. I was looking for a good library and Jamia has one. Added to that was the free residential and coaching facility. One will not get such an assembly of teachers anywhere other than Jamia. It made all the difference," he says.

Watch 2012 IAS Topper Interview:

Dr Shena Aggarwal IAS Interview (2012 All India Topper)

What's equivalent of IAS in United States

Is there much difference. Is their system somewhat better. Does we need to make any changes.

No, there is no such thing in USA. "Does" we need to make any changes? Yes. We need to stop aping them. We need to change our mindset that whatever they are doing is good for us too.

USA and India are different. What they are is because of their history, their geography, and demography. One cannot Copy and Paste that to their own country.

Having said that, let me answer the question. USA has a "spoils system". Whichever party is in power, it choses its own people for the higher offices. A banker may become treasury chief and vice-versa. There is no permanent civil service like IAS. President can chose anybody to head a department. He need not be from the government.

IAS exam consists of 3 stages::

1. Prelims- CSAT since 2011..- normally conducted during the second half of May.

2.Mains, conducted during the month of October/November. only those selected through mains appear.

3.Interview-Those who are selected in the main examination will be eligible to appear before the Interview Board at New Delhi.

CSAT-

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours(GS kind of paper)

Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours(CAT like English,quant,DILR

MAINS::two optional subjects (two papers each carries 300 marks), one General Studies (two papers each carries 300 marks), one essay (carries 200 marks) - total 2000 marks. Other than this, there are two language papers one in Indian language and one in General English at the level of 10th standard

Language papers(1 and 2)) are of qualifying nature and wont be considered in ranking.

Paper-III -Essay 200 Marks

Papers IV & V General Studies (300 Marks for each paper= 600 Marks)

Papers VI, VII, VIII & IX Any two subjects (each having 2 papers) to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects (300 marks for each paper)

List of optionlas
List of Optional Subjects - IAS (Main)
- (Total 25)
Agriculture Management
Animal Husbandry & Vetinary Science Mathematics
Anthropology Mechanical Engineering
Botany Medical Science
Chemistry Philosophy
Civil Engineering Physics
Commerce & Accountancy
political Science & International Relations
Economics Psychology
Geography Sociology
Geology Statistics
Indian History Zoology
Four attempts for open, seven for OBCs and no limit for SCs/STs. If a person appears in the Preliminary Examination or even one paper is counted as an attempt.
See Previous Papers Or Model Papers

Art and Culture of India for CSE by Roman Saini

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